• MIRS Biographical Profiles

Sowerby, William (D)

Office: N795 HOB Term: Second Phone: (517) 373-0159 Email: WilliamSowerby@house.mi.gov Home Address: 37860 Saddle Lane, Clinton Township, MI 48036 Website: http://housedems.com/state-rep-william-sowerby Seat Number: 69 Standing Committees: Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation(VC), Local Government & Municipal Finance, Education (C) = Chair, (VC) = Vice Chair

POLITICAL CAREER

Rep. Bill Sowerby was elected to his first term in November 2016. Prior to becoming state representative, he served four terms on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners after first being elected in 1989. He was elected to the post of Clinton Township Treasurer in 1996, serving through November 2016.

As Treasurer, Sowerby served on the Clinton Township Board of Trustees. He also chaired the township's Budget, Ways and Means Committee, the Ambulance Committee, the Refuse Committee - and the Transportation Committee. He also served as treasurer of the township’s Police and Fire Pension Board, and also as Clinton Township’s appointee on the 41-B District Court Council, as well as the Grosse Pointes Clinton Refuse Disposal Authority.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Rep. Sowerby previously worked in automotive sales

To read MIRS biography of Rep. Sowerby, click here.

EDUCATION

He attended St. Gertrude Elementary, then Lake Shore High School before graduating from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

PERSONAL

He has been married for 20 years to Martha Higgins and has one son.

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Since 2000, Rep. Sowerby has served as chair of the Annual Clinton Township Community Blood Drive and has served as a local coordinator for Green Michigan, a nonprofit organization that seeks to keep the environment a priority.

LEAD STAFF PERSON:

Additional Information

• Sponsored Bills
• MIRS Stories

 HB 4071  - EDUCATION, Attendance, Modifies attendance requirements for kindergarten.
(Status: 01/23/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION )

 HB 4096  - NATURAL RESOURCES, Gas and Oil, Increases penalties for pollutant and oil spills into the Great Lakes.
(Status: 01/29/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION )

 HB 4251  - FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, Payday Lending, Prohibits deferred presentment service transactions that charge service fees greater than an annual rate of 36%.
(Status: 02/26/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES )

 HB 4299  - LABOR, Hours and Wages, Increases and modifies minimum wage for tipped employees.
(Status: 03/07/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS )

 HB 4474  - NATURAL RESOURCES, Gas and Oil, Requires notice and an opportunity for a public hearing prior to authorizing hydraulic fracturing.
(Status: 04/18/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY POLICY )

 HB 4522  - HUMAN SERVICES, Medical Services, Eliminates language related to cost exceeding savings for Healthy Michigan.
(Status: 04/30/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY )

 HB 4591  - EDUCATION, Board Members, Requires monthly board meetings for all public schools.
(Status: 05/15/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION )

 HB 4646  - NEW, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS, Ethics, Require certain candidates for executive office to file financial disclosure report.
(Status: 09/05/2019 - HOUSE - COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE H-5 - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS )

 HB 4671  - APPROPRIATIONS, Supplemental, NEW, Provide for grant program to fund "Every Child Ready To Read" program.
(Status: 05/24/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS)

 HB 4778  - INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX, Credit, Provides for purchase or renovation of certain qualified green residential buildings.
(Status: 06/26/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON TAX POLICY )

 HB 4848  - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, Air Pollution, Requires reduction of air emissions during certain months.
(Status: 08/28/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION )

 HB 4896  - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, Other, Modifies accrual of causes of action and statute of limitations on certain causes of action based on accusations of fraud associated with a claim for unemployment benefits.
(Status: 09/03/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND TOURISM )

 HB 5049  - CONSTRUCTION, Asbestos, Requires disclosure of environmental violations for public contracts for asbestos abatement projects.
(Status: 11/05/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS )

 HB 5051  - LABOR, Health and Safety, Modifies provisions related to civil penalties with respect to repeated violations and asbestos-related violations.
(Status: 11/05/2019 - HOUSE - COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE H-1 - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY )

 HB 5273  - ANIMALS, Other, Prohibit the leasing of animals.
(Status: 12/05/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE)

 HR 0152  - , A resolution to urge the President of the United States to nominate commissioners to fill the vacancies on the Federal Election Commission.
(Status: 09/10/2019 - HOUSE - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS )

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Legal Stun Gun Bill Shoots Out Of House (01-14-2020)

Switch Deal Overcomes Resistance To Pass In House (12-11-2019)

House Runs The Table With Passage Of Last Gaming Bill (12-04-2019)

House Runs The Table With Passage Of Last Gaming Bill (12-04-2019)

Sowerby, Brann Propose To Outlaw 'Pet Leasing' Programs (11-25-2019)

Dems, Conservatives Unite On Ending MEGA Tax Credits (11-14-2019)

House Sets Seven-Bill Hen Package Free (11-06-2019)

If A Tree Falls In The Neighborhood Does It Result In A Lawsuit? (10-16-2019)

Changes To Payday Lending Floated To Committee (10-02-2019)

Robinson Calls DIFS Budget 'Racist' (09-24-2019)

Panel Hears The Familiar Howl Of Wolf Delisting (09-10-2019)

If Voters Don't Trust Elected Officials, How Can They Represent? (09-04-2019)

Dems Propose UIA Benefit Hike, 'Making Whole' Those Falsely Accused (09-03-2019)

Dems Propose UIA Benefit Hike, 'Making Whole' Those Falsely Accused (09-03-2019)

Michigan Businesses In Good Standing Moved To Front Of Line (07-29-2019)

Michigan Businesses In Good Standing Moved To Front Of Line (07-29-2019)

LaGrand: Financial Disclosure Bills Strike The Right Balance (06-12-2019)

Flint Lockup Money Put Back Into House's DOC Budget (06-11-2019)

Lawmakers Cast Updated Commercial Fishing Regs To Committee (06-11-2019)

House Dems Are Back To BOLD (05-28-2019)

House Pulls Trigger On Weakening Penalties For Expired CPLs (05-24-2019)

Reilly Takes Aim At Updating Hunter Harassment Law (05-21-2019)

Personal Disclosure Bills Getting Bi-Partisan Support (05-16-2019)

Realtors, Municipals Go Toe-to-Toe Over AirBNB Rental Zoning (05-01-2019)

Dems Hope To ‘Repeal The Steal’ And Return Minimum Wage To Petition Levels (03-07-2019)

Dems Quote Mason's Rules For Lower (02-27-2019)

Letter From Chair Of House Local Government Chair Ruffles Feathers (02-25-2019)

Funeral Home Staff Could Be Made Investigators . . . And They Don't Like It (02-20-2019)

Bigger Fines Proposed For Companies That Spill In The Great Lakes (02-05-2019)

Legally Mandatory Kindergarten Becomes Sowerby's Focus (01-30-2019)

29 House Seats Could Be Impacted In Benson Redistricting (01-28-2019)